Trek from Porto to Santiago de Compostela on a Camino Portugues route
Walking the Portuguese Camino is one of the best pilgrimage routes to Santiago to Compostela. The famous Caminho Português de Santiago, also known as the Portuguese Camino or the Portuguese Way takes you through Portugal before crossing into Spain and ending up at Santiago de Compostela.
Walk along the historic Portuguese Way from Porto to Santiago de Compostela and discover the charming villages and beautiful Galician countryside of northwestern Portugal and Spain.
Over two weeks, this Camino Portugués (Portuguese Way) itinerary offers the perfect route with shorter stages to allow for daily sightseeing.
Starting from Porto, one of Portugal’s most beloved cities, you’ll embark on the centuries-old Camino north to small towns like Fajozes, Arcos, and Rubiães before crossing the Minho River into Spain. As you make your way to Santiago de Compostela, you’ll visit Galician towns including Tui, Pontevedra, and Caldas de Reis.
Collect stamps in your Pilgrim Passport, trek beside fellow peregrinos, and feast on delicious regional cuisine. Book your two-week holiday now and complete the Portuguese Way Porto to Santiago tour!
Highlights of the Portuguese Camino
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Portuguese Camino Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in Porto
Welcome to the UNESCO-protected city of Porto in northern Portugal. Transfer from the airport to your hotel in the heart of the city before taking the time to familiarize yourself with the neighborhood. Pick up your Pilgrim Passport, drink wine and dine on local fare, followed by an evening stroll along the Douro River.
Overnight Location: Bed and Breakfast in Porto
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 2 Trek to Arcos
Day 1 on the Portuguese Camino largely goes through urban areas as you walk out of Porto. Enjoy this urban setting to enjoy some breaks for coffee and pastries. As you near Arcos the scenery gradually transforms into a more rural setting. Notably, the Zameiro Bridge stands out along this route.
Overnight Location: Bed and Breakfast in Arcos
Distance: 21 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 Trek to Barcelos
Continue along the Portuguese Way covering a stretch of combined rural tracks and paved roads until you arrive in Barcelos. Just beyond the Cávado River, Barcelos offers much to be explored.
Overnight Location: Bed and Breakfast in Barcelos
Distance: 20 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 Trek to Balugaes
Walk through vineyards and quaint villages today. The ascent to Portela de Tamel, reaching 130 meters above sea level, poses the greatest challenge of the day.
Overnight Location: Bed and Breakfast in Balugaes
Distance: 16 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 Trek to Ponte de Lima
As you approach Galicia, verdant hills gradually dominate the scenery. Enjoy a brief ascent in Vitorino dos Piaes followed by a descent to the Lima River. Exploring the old town of Ponte de Lima is especially recommended.
Overnight Location: Bed and Breakfast in Ponte de Lima
Distance: 17 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 Trek to Rubiães
You’ll cover some challenging terrain today with a series of inclines, though you’ll have rewarding views of quaint chapels and historic monuments emblematic to the Camino de Santiago.
Overnight Location: Bed and Breakfast in Rubiães
Distance: 19 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 Trek to Tui
Following the Portuguese Way, you’ll finally cross into Spain and the country’s beautiful Galicia territory. The border is marked by the bridge you’ll traverse from Valença do Minho in Portugal to Tui.
Overnight Location: Bed and Breakfast in Tui
Distance: 19 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 Trek to O Porriño
Tui, the first town in Spain, marks the beginning of the last 100 km of the Portuguese Way and sees many pilgrims opt to walk this route starting from here. Make a point to explore some of the city’s more notable attractions, including the Tui Cathedral in San Fernando square, before setting off for O Porriño.
Overnight Location: Bed and Breakfast in O Porriño
Distance: 16.1 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9 Trek to Redondella
The effort you’ll make on the uphill today will deliver breathtaking vistas from higher vantage points. Enjoy the enchanting city of Mos, after which the climb to Alto de Inxertado awaits. Once conquered a gradual descent toward Redondela awaits you.
Overnight Location: Bed and Breakfast in Redondella
Distance: 15.5 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 10 Trek to Pontevedra
The Portuguese Way merges with the Portuguese Coastal Way (an alternative route along the coast) at Redondela, so it may come as no surprise that you’ll share the road with an increased number of peregrinos. Break up the 11-km day with a couple of highlights. It’s worth checking out the Roman bridge in Ponte Sampaio as well as making the ascent to A Canicouva.
Once in Pontevedra, be sure to visit La Peregrina Church, and dedicate a little time to wandering the historical quarter.
Overnight Location: Bed and Breakfast in Pontevedra
Distance: 19.6 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 11 Trek to Caldas de Reis
Today’s segment of the Camino is quite flat and leads you through pleasant bucolic scenery, a perfect counterbalance to the days’ prior.
On the way from Pontevedra to Caldas de Reis, stop at the Natural Park of Rio Barosa to discover the reserve’s historic mills and cascading waterfalls, and then soothe tired muscles in a warming soak in Caldas de Reis’ thermal springs.
Overnight Location: Bed and Breakfast in Caldas de Reis
Distance: 21.5 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 12 Trek to Padrón
Today you’ll venture to legendary Padrón, thought to be the first piece of land spotted by the sailors transporting the remains of St. James the Apostle. After checking into your hotel, discover more of Padrón’s history, including its fame as the birthplace of some of the country’s most popular Galician writers, like Rosalía de Castro.
Overnight Location: Bed and Breakfast in Padrón
Distance: 18.6 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 13 Trek to Santiago de Compostela
Get an early start this morning to complete the last—and longest—stage of the Portuguese Way. Take in the Galician countryside before it transitions into the built-up sprawl of Santiago de Compostela and you end your pilgrimage in lively Praza do Obradoiro, the endpoint of all caminos. Celebrate with your fellow peregrinos and if you arrive on time, find your way to the Cathedral to join in the Pilgrim Mass before getting yourself to the Pilgrims’ Office to collect your Compostela (Pilgrim certificate of completion).
Note, there is the option of breaking up the 24.5 km into two parts with an additional stay in Teo, a halfway point.
Overnight Location: Bed and Breakfast in Santiago
Distance: 24.3 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 14 Depart Santiago de Compostela
Your Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage comes to a satisfying end. Complete any last-minute sightseeing, picking up any souvenirs and gifts, before making your way to your next destination.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
This self-guided tour is always run as a private tour for your group only, where the pricing depends on your travelling dates, as well as the types of rooms that you need.
2024 Departures:
- Single room: from $1,750 USD*
- Sharing a double room: from $1,095 USD*
2025 Departures:
- Single room: from $1,850 USD*
- Sharing a double room: from $1,125 USD*
*-Pricing for this tour depends on the dates of your trip. Please click the booking button below to get the exact pricing for your trip dates. The prices listed are per person.
Book NowAccommodation on Portuguese Camino
During this trip you will mostly stay in hostels and pensions. These accommodations have the necessary services to cover the basic needs of cleanliness and rest. Officially, hostels and guesthouses are 1-star accommodations. However, this rating should not be taken into account when evaluating the level of comfort and quality of their services.
Single Rooms and Solo Travellers
Rooms are double occupancy. You can pay a supplement to have a private room in a hotel where possible. Solo travellers may be required to pay a supplement.
Hotels on Standard Tour
Simple hostels and pensions along the Camino
Stay in basic hostels and pensions along the walking route. These accommodations, although simple, are adequate and are preferred option of a stay for many Camino walkers.
What’s Included in Portuguese Camino?
Meals
13 breakfasts are included.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 13 nights are included.
Transportation during the Tour
Transportation for your luggage is included throughout the tour (max. 20 kg per backpack - 1 piece of luggage per person). Airport transfers are not included, but private transfers can be arranged as an optional extra.
Also included
- 24-hour emergency line
- Guided Tour in Santiago de Compostela (old town)
- Galician cheese tasting in Santiago
- Pilgrim pass
- Pilgrim scallop
Not included
- Guide services
- Insurance
- Personal expenses
- Personal transfers not specifically listed as included
- Hotel tourist tax
Optional Extras
- Half board supplement
- Picnic Supplement
- Private transfers
- Extra piece of luggage
- Extra nights
Frequently Asked Questions about Portuguese Camino
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